Struggling Raiders suffer potentially costly loss in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It would seem that there's only so much longer that Raiders coach Dennis Allen can keep up the pretense about his team's lingering issues not being such a big deal. More evidence to the contrary mounted Friday night with yet another shaky performance.

For the third straight game, the Raiders defense struggled out of the gate and the offense struggled, period, as the Green Bay Packers cruised to a 31-21 victory at Lambeau Field.

"It was a good opportunity for us to measure ourselves to see exactly where we're at," Allen said. "We're obviously not there yet as a football team. We're going to continue to work. We're going to get there."

If so, one has to wonder how long it's going to take.

"We better be close to being ready for the regular season here shortly," quarterback Matt Schaub said.

The regular season starts Sept. 7 at the New York Jets. The Raiders play one more exhibition game, Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Allen and Schaub said they aren't sure how much, if any, the starters are going to play that game. Therefore, the Packers game might have been the last game action for Schaub and the other front-line players until the Jets game.

Friday's loss goes away once the regular season starts. It's unknown how long it's going to take for the Raiders to get back projected starters Sio Moore, Nick Roach and Tarell Brown from the injuries they suffered Friday.

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Moore's injury appears to be the most serious of the three, given he left field on a stretcher after he hurt his neck early in the second quarter. He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation before being released and rejoining the team after the game.

Allen said Moore was diagnosed with a neck strain and Moore was cleared to fly home with the team.

"It's always a scary situation, especially when a player says (it's his) neck," Raiders safety Charles Woodson said. "You hear them say it on the field. I've seen it a couple times, and it never gets any easier. I don't think anyone wants to play after that."

Roach and Brown left the game with concussions in the first half and never returned.

The Raiders matched the Packers through the first four drives, with each team scoring a touchdown on its first possession and then punting on its three successive series.

Oakland's offense misfired for most of the night with the starters on the field. The Raiders netted 60 yards on their first five drives. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew accounted for 40 of those on his touchdown run in the first quarter.

Schaub completed his first three passes. He spent the rest of the first half trying to find a rhythm that never arrived.

Schaub completed 5 of 11 passes for 17 yards on his first six drives. It wasn't until the Packers starters exited that Schaub moved the ball with much consistency.

"We've got to improve ourselves in the passing game," Allen said. "That's a full-time team effort. That's not about one individual."

There were some positives for the Raiders, Allen said. In particular, rookie linebacker Khalil Mack turned in his best outing after two so-so showings.

Mack recorded an interception of Matt Flynn in the second quarter. He also generated pressure on Rodgers a few times and notched five tackles.

"I'm getting comfortable in my role," Mack said. "I stuck my head in there and made a few plays."

The Raiders committed seven penalties for 54 yards in the first half, when the starters dominated the playing time. Through three games, they have been penalized 29 times for 243 yards.

Raiders running back Kory Sheets suffered an Achilles injury midway through the third quarter on a play on which he fumbled. He was helped from the field. Right offensive tackle Menelik Watson left the game with a hip flexor injury.

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski didn't play because of a sore right quadriceps.